24 | FEBRUARY 15 • 2024
her lifelong dream is to find
decent kosher Mexican food.
She enjoys trivia or game
nights with her husband at
local bars and visiting local
hands-on museums and
libraries with her kids. She
was a competitive ice skater
when growing up.
DAVID
LOWENSTEIN
A native of New
York City, David
arrived in
Michigan nearly
five years ago to work as an
extension educator with
Michigan State University
Extension.
He is an entomologist
whose career helps Michigan
residents find solutions
to their plant health care
needs and manage plant-
feeding insects. These efforts
included projects such as
finding a beneficial wasp
that attacks lily leaf beetles in
area gardens to monitoring
for lilac borers on Mackinac
Island.
He also oversees Extension
Master Gardener volunteers
in Macomb County,
who grow food for low-
income residents, beautify
community spaces, and
share practical gardening
tips at farmers markets and
community events at over 40
locations.
Having recently moved to
Berkley, where he lives with
his daughter, Sophie, and
son, Theodore, he is excited
to transform his yard into
one with pollinator plantings,
ornamental grasses and
vegetables.
He enjoys hiking, canning
jam and bike-riding.
He participated in the
Federation’s Ride for the
Living and hopes to make
this an annual tradition.
David is part of the Etz
Chayim and Woodward
Avenue Shul communities
and regularly volunteers to
read the weekly Haftarah or
Shabbat services. He started
volunteering at Yad Ezra and
appreciates the opportunities
available in the area to give
back to the community.
He enjoys petting bumble
bees and reminds people that
only the females can sting.
MOSHE
LENCER
Moshe Lencer,
known as Moosh,
is a proud Israeli
native who
moved to the United States in
July 2015 to work for AEPi.
Moosh earned his degree in
government with minors in
international affairs and
business administration from
the Interdisciplinary Center
Herzliya.
Continuing his educational
journey, he obtained master’s
degrees in Jewish education
from Hebrew University and
Israel Experiential Education
from George Washington
University.
In 2019, Moosh’s life took
a delightful turn when he
met his partner, Sarah, who
was already embracing the
magic of Michigan in Ann
Arbor. Sarah introduced him
to the state’s vibrant culture,
from savoring Buddy’s Pizza
to tapping into the soulful
beats of Motown music,
exploring cider mills and
being part of an incredible
Jewish community.
In 2020, Moosh and Sarah
made Ann Arbor their joint
home. Moosh has since
actively engaged in
Michigan’s Jewish life,
volunteering in organizations
like the Michigan Region
ADL Educational Board,
BBYO and AEPi Ann Arbor
advising.
Nationally, Moosh has lent
his support to initiatives such
as Artists 4 Israel, B’nai B’rith
International and KAHAL:
Your Jewish Home Abroad.
Moosh’s professional
journey at AEPi spanned
more than five years,
starting as the International
Ambassador and culminating
in the role of director of
Jewish enrichment and
education. Currently working
at The iCenter with a focus
on Israel education and
community partnerships,
Moosh has also been
providing his expertise
through consulting for
organizations, including
BBYO, WZO’s Office of
the Vice Chairman of
the Executive, JFNA and
MyZuzah. Moosh has
successfully completed his
consulting commitments
with the University of
Michigan Hillel and
Shorashim.
In 2023, Moosh
participated in The Big
House 5K, Canton Liberty
10k Run, and the Detroit
Free Press International Half-
Marathon. He is looking
forward to experiencing
more of Michigan’s beautiful
landscapes through new
races in 2024.
RACHEL KLAR
Growing up in
the Detroit Jewish
community and
graduating from
University of
Michigan with a degree in
elementary education, Rachel
knew she wanted to move
back home after college. She
started teaching at Hillel Day
School in the Early
Childhood Center. There, she
was able to make Judaism
fun, meaningful and
approachable for the
youngest students.
Her next chapter began at
Temple Israel as their youth
director. Temple Israel was a
place where she grew up and
learned to be a Jewish leader.
Her role was to work with
elementary, middle and high
school students to embody
leadership, create spiritual
connections to their Judaism
and a safe space in their
synagogue and Jewish world.
Currently, Rachel works at
the Jewish Federation where
she helps others create Jewish
relationships and find their
role in the community. The
Detroit Jewish community
has shaped who she is today,
and she feels honored to be
working in a space where she
can do the same for others.
Waking up every day where
she is excited to work to
create a stronger and more
vibrant Jewish world is a gift,
she says.
She loves spending time
with family and friends,
traveling and being with her
golden retriever Lou. She
loves exploring Metro
Detroit’s food scene and
teaching others Pilates,
Lagree and Bounce, which
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